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Northlake church closes, sells its land to the city
Where has the congregation of Northlake Lutheran Church gone? (Mark Lawton/Sun-TImes Media)
Updated: July 8, 2012 8:29AM
The congregation has left Northlake Lutheran Church but Veteran’s Park District might be moving in.
On April 15 the congregation held its last services at 112 N. Wolf Road, said its former pastor, Julie Rowe.
The church was constructed in the early 1940s and expanded in 1959 but by the time Rowe started as part-time pastor in 2010, perhaps 30 people were showing up for services.
“The neighborhood was changing and getting more diverse and we were not,” Rowe said. “We didn’t have children for a long, long time and that’s what young families want, something for their children.”
Though a small congregation, the church could have continued for a few more years. Instead, the congregation decided to sell the building to the city of Northlake and donate its assets to other causes. Those include scholarships for seminary students, sponsoring missions and Leyden Family Services.
“It’s part of our faith,” Rowe said. “Out of death comes new life.”
The city of Northlake will make its third and final payment for the property in August. The city is paying $575,000 total.
“We’ve been in talks with Veteran’s Park District to do some programming there,” Mayor Jeff Sherwin said. “Our intention is to use it as a multi-purpose facility.”
While plans are still being considered, they could include setting up a preschool program and a community theater program.
First, the building will need some work. The heating and air conditioning needs work and the building needs to be made accessible for people with disabilities.
“There’s a lot of potential there,” Sherwin said.
Franklin Park Herald-Journal was unable to reach Veteran’s Park District for comment before deadline.
